GSBUG Hardware Info SIG

June 13, 2002

June 13, 2002 2

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGAgenda – June 13, 20027:00 – 7:05 Administration7:05 – 8:15 Featured Topic – CD, DVD, and Other

Non-”Floppy”, Removable Media Drives8:15 – 8:30 Hardware News8:30 – 8:55 Random Access (Q&A)8:55 – 9:00 Recap, Preview, and Close

June 13, 2002 3

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGAdministrationWelcome! Please Sign In.What the SIG is…and is not.

Is – an information resource for computer users and potential computer users

Is NOT – a way to get your computer built or repaired (contact the GSBUG Daytime Hardware SIG)

Log – Random Access/Q&A (First Come…)

June 13, 2002 4

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGAdministration (continued):Presentation materials will be posted at:http://gsbug.apcug.org/hwinfosig.htm

Prior presentation materials are also posted.

June 13, 2002 5

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGCD, DVD and Other, non-”Floppy”, Removable-Media Drives “CD-ROM” – Compact Disk Read Only Memory. A

readable/non-writeable, storage device with separable media; one of the devices used to “play” CD-ROM disks (CDs).

“CD-R” – Compact Disk Recordable. A readable/writeable, storage device with separable media; the device used to record CD-R media and “play” CD-Rs and CDs.

June 13, 2002 6

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGCD, DVD and Other, non-”Floppy”, Removable-Media Drives (continued) “CD-RW” – Compact Disk Re-Writable. A

readable/writeable, storage device with separable media; the device used to record CD-R & CD-RW media and “play” CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and CDs.

“DVD-ROM (DVD)” – Digital Versatile Disk. A readable/non-writeable, storage device with separable media; the device used to “play” DVD disks and CDs.

June 13, 2002 7

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGCD, DVD and Other, non-”Floppy”, Removable-Media Drives (continued)DVD ”other”: DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD+RW, DVD

Video, DVD Audio. For more info see http://www.dvdforum.org/tech-dvdprimer.htm (9/2000)

Various “Combo” drives – usually CD-RW + DVD “ATAPI” – advanced technology attachment packet

interface “SCSI” – small computer system interface

June 13, 2002 8

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGCD, DVD and Other, non-”Floppy”, Removable-Media Drives(continued)CD-ROM Drives:

Some of the manufacturers – Acer (AOpen), ASUS, LG, Lite-On, Mitsumi, NEC, Panasonic, Plextor, Samsung, Sony, Teac, Toshiba

Read speeds – 24X-56X (1X=150KB/s) [previously to 72X, Kenwood, now discontinued]

Cost – typ under $50; frequently under $30 (ATAPI)Pros – cheap, fastest read, approx 650MB; great as base

drive for audio and other CD duplicationCons – read only

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GSBUG Hardware Info SIGCD, DVD and Other, non-”Floppy”, Removable-Media Drives(continued)CD-R Drives:

Few still produced – most are SCSIConversion to CD-RW almost completePossible bargains for older products – watch speed vs

cost of CD-RW at faster speed.

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GSBUG Hardware Info SIGCD, DVD and Other, non-”Floppy”, Removable-Media Drives(continued)CD-RW Drives:

Primary manufacturers – Acer (AOpen/Benq), Creative Labs (Panasonic), Lite-On, Plextor, Sony, TDK, Teac, Yamaha

Read speeds – 24X-48X Write speeds – 8X-48XRe-Write speeds – 4X-24X Typically read “write x re-write x read”Requires recording software

June 13, 2002 11

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGCD, DVD and Other, non-”Floppy”, Removable-Media Drives(continued)CD-RW Drives (continued):

Most support packet writing (software feature for D&D)Cost – typically from $75-$250 (ATAPI)Pros – writable, re-writable; back-up & restore HDD;

potential for floppy and CD replacement (universality) Cons – somewhat slower reads (than CD); “expensive”;

additional software required; less versatile and less capable than an external hard drive w/ USB 2.0 interface; still “need” DVD

June 13, 2002 12

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGCD, DVD and Other, non-”Floppy”, Removable-Media Drives(continued)DVD Drives:

Primary manufacturers – Acer (AOpen/Benq), Creative Labs (Panasonic), LG, Lite-On, Pioneer, Samsung, Toshiba

Read speeds – 4X-16X (1X=1.35MB/s); up to 48X CDRequires controller and/or playback softwareCost – $50-100 (ATAPI) Pros – support for DVD movies and gamesCons – read only; extra hardware or software required

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GSBUG Hardware Info SIGCD, DVD and Other, non-”Floppy”, Removable-Media Drives(continued)DVD-R/-RAM/+RW Drives:

Primary manufacturers – Hitachi, HP, Panasonic, Pioneer, QPS, Sony, Toshiba (http://www.dvdrw.com/)

Write speeds – 1X-2X (1X = 1.385MB/s); read up to 24X CD; typically 4.7GB storage (to 9.4GB double-sided)

+RW also support CD-RW writingRequires recording and playback software; cartridgesCost – $375-$500+ (higher for SCSI models)Pros – high capacity plus DVD playbackCons – cost, extra software required

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GSBUG Hardware Info SIGCD, DVD and Other, non-”Floppy”, Removable-Media Drives(continued)Combo Drives (CD-RW with DVD-ROM):

Primary manufacturers –Plextor, Samsung, ToshibaSpeeds – varies widely; tends to be substantially lower

than best in each classRequires record (CD-RW) and playback (DVD) softwareCost – $100-250Pros – versatility; takes up only one drive bayCons – cost; speeds are sub-optimal; extra software

required

June 13, 2002 15

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGCD, DVD and Other, non-”Floppy”, Removable-Media Drives(continued)Other Devices:

Castlewood ORB (2.2 & 5.7GB; ATAPI, int/ext SCSI, USB 1.1); $300 for the 5.7GB, $60/cartridge (direct)

Magneto-Optical – Fujitsu Dynamo (640MB & 1.3GB), Pinnacle Micro (5.2GB), Sony (5.2GB), plus others; cartridge media

Media “Readers” – both read and write to various media types, incl. CompactFlash (CF), SmartMedia (SM), Memory Stick, Secure Digital (SD), Mircodrive, and MultiMediaCard (MMC). Limited by internal transfer rate.

June 13, 2002 16

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGHardware NewsProcessors

AMD (Computex 2002, Taipei) - announced broad infrastructure support for “K8” (Opteron and next-generation Athlon/ClawHammer) from 35 major players including ALi, ATI, NVIDIA, SiS, and VIA (for chipsets) and ASUSTeK, ESC, FIC, Gigabyte, and MSI (for motherboards). Demo’d 4-way server.Released the first “Thoroughbred” processor – Athlon XP 2200+ (1.8GHz, .13 micron). Basically a die shrink and line extension. No architectural changes.

June 13, 2002 17

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGHardware News (continued)Processors (continued)

Intel released a 1.4GHz (Socket 370) Celeron and 1.7 and 1.8GHz (Socket 478) Celerons – the latter based on P4 core (.18 micron, 128KB L2, 400MHz FSB). Marks beginning of transition to all 478-pin, P4 core products for value and mainstream desktops.

VIA released a 1.0GHz C3 processor – simple line extension. Several motherboards shown at Computex.

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GSBUG Hardware Info SIGHardware News (continued)Core Logic (chipsets)

ALi announced the M1687 Northbridge and M1563 Southbridge – support for AMD “K8” (AGP 8X, ATA/133, USB 2.0, 10/100 NIC). Also announced the M1681 Northbridge – P4 with support for DDR400 (PC3200).

ATI announced support for “K8” in RADEON IGP series. Intel released the 845G and 845GL GMCH (Northbridge with Intel

Extreme graphics) – the 845G supports an external AGP port, the 845GL (lite) does not.

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GSBUG Hardware Info SIGHardware News (continued)Core Logic (chipsets) (continued)

NVIDIA drops plans for nForce 615 and 620 chipsets. Announced support for “K8”.

SiS announced the SiS648 Northbridge – P4 with 533MHz FSB and AGP 8X.

VIA released the P4X333 (VT8754) and P4X266E Northbridges – the P4X333 supports 533MHz FSB, DDR333 (PC2700), AGP 8X, max 32GB RAM; the P4X266E adds 533MHz FSB to the P4X266.

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GSBUG Hardware Info SIGHardware News (continued)System RAM

RAMBUS announced RIMM 4200 design – dual-channel support on a single module; uses PC1066 RDRAM; 232-pin modules; requires CT-RIMM (continuity and termination RIMM).

MotherboardsComputex 2002 (Taipei) - “K8” motherboards “shown” by ASUSTeK, ECS, FIC,

Gigabyte and MSI. VIA had a supposedly running version in their showroom. AMD had demo systems running for the press.

Intel and other released 845G and 845GL-based boards.

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GSBUG Hardware Info SIGHardware News (continued)Graphics processors & cards – nothing newHard Drives

Serial-ATA interface shown on many new motherboards at Computex. Still no drives released.

Hard Drive ControllersSerial-ATA controller chips and cards shown at Computex - Highpoint and

Promise (xx376); no web announcement.Other Drives

Lite-On “showed” a 48x24x48 CD-RW at Computex; no web announcement.

June 13, 2002 22

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGHardware News (continued)Sound processors & cards – nothing newModems & NICs – nothing newChassis & power supplies – nothing new

June 13, 2002 23

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGRandom Access (Q&A)

June 13, 2002 24

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGRecap, Preview, and CloseRecapPreview

Featured Topic for July 11 – Graphics Processors, Video Cards, and Monitors

Close (please police up the area)